| Annointed Zephyr Wind My Horses |
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| (1-12-2000) I got Flicka for my thirteenth birthday present. Actually, she was my parents' fulfillment of their end of a written contract with me. I agreed to keep a grade "B" average or higher in school for one year, and they agreed to give me a horse as a reward. Mind you, this was no small accomplishment on my part, as I was a notoriously bad student. It is amazing what a little well placed incentive can do for a person..... Anyway, I got Flicka and have had her ever since. She is now 26 years old and is doing quite well, except for the shin splints, arthritis and occasional cold weather bleeding. She is a sorrel Quarter Horse/ Standardbred mix who stands 15.2 h. She's trained Western Pleasure and Trail, English Hunt Seat, Saddleseat, Basic Dressage, and Sidesaddle. She is an impressive horse, though not all that pretty. She inherited her mother's Standardbred head which looks rather odd on her Quarter Horse body. She is also blind in one eye due to an accident that happened when she was about nine. Her only marking is a small sliver of a star that looks like a dime turned on its side. She has a big heart, a good mind, a willing spirit, and a loving soul. Yes, I think she's the best thing since peanut butter. :-) Flicka is used as a lesson horse at the barn. All of the beginning riders learn on her. She is trained for voice command, and always listens in her lessons for the instructor to give the command before she'll listen to the rider. It has prevented may a students from going faster than they are ready to go. We also use her to help us train the younger horses. We'll pony the young ones with her so that they will learn how to walk through water and to not spook at unknown things. She does a very good job. I love my old mare very much. It is always good to see a new generation of kids fall in love with horses because of her, too. To see more pictures of her, click on the title above. |
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| This EquestRing site is owned by Mellinda (Mel) G. Hansen. |
| [Skip Prev] [Prev] [Skip Next] [Next 5] [List Sites] Painting (right) by Naomi - Thank you for the beautiful work. |
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| To see pictures more pictures of MY HORSES! Or on the titles about the horses. |
| News flash! Learn more about the barn's various Horse Show Adventures from the 1999 and 2000 Show season! |
| Cory, one of our Barn Girls, on Flicka. |
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| 6-20-2001 I have sad news to impart. Earlier this month, on June 11, 2001, we put Flicka down. Flicka had been going downhill rapidly since this past December. Her arthritic knees were getting progressively worse to the point that she was obviously wincing with every step. In addition, she was unable to keep weight on, regardless of the amount of free choice grain, hay and green grass she ate. We had been keeping her in the pasture with all of the brood mares and the babies where she was the lowest horse on the totem poll. It hurt her to move, and the other horses made her move a lot. We tried keeping her in the barn for a while, but she seemed to be more miserable in there. Her only joy in life was flirting with the boys, AA Manhattan and RH Ishmael, and eating apples and carrots that the barn girls and I brought for her. As her weight continued to drop and her attitude toward life grew increasingly worse, we decided that before her digestive system shut down completely, we'd put her down. It was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make, but it was a necessary one. |
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| Flicka 1974-2001 |
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| We did however, decide to send her out in style and to give her students an opportunity to say good-bye to the old girl. So we had a small "Celebration of Life" party to celebrate her 27 years in this world. We had cake and punch and shared favorite Flicka stories. :-) As I'm able, I'll get some of them posted here. She had some good adventures. She taught a lot of people of all ages how to ride. Though I'm not sure of the exact number, I'd guess over the years it was close to 300 people. Not bad considering 8 years of that she just stood around in the pasture eating while I was away at college. The last lesson she gave was this past April. My two older nieces and my nephew each took a short ride on Flicka. The younger niece was content to pet Flicka. It was a good time and was probably the last really good day for her. |
| I will greatly miss Flicka. She was a part of my life for 19 years. She spoiled me rotten by being an easy keeper, mild mannered, and very easy to train. I have to constantly remind myself that the other horses I work with are not like her, as she was an original. God bless you, Flicka. Say hello to Pepper, Cumin, Ginger, and Dad for me. I love you. Mel Hansen-Holloway |
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| Flick, the ultamate lesson horse, with her last lesson. |
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| Sad News..... |